Ascend Releases V.90 56K Software for MAX and MAX TNT Series56 Digital Modems
V.90 Software Upgrade Provides 56K Compatibility Following Successful Interoperability Testing with Modem Vendors and ISPs
ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 1, 1998-- Ascend Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASND - news), a leader in WAN networking solutions for providers and users of the Public Network, today announced the release of V.90 software that ensures reliable, interoperable 56K(1) modem transfers for the MAX and MAX TNT Series56(tm) Digital Modems. Registered Ascend customers can download the V.90 compliant code today at ftp://ftp.ascend.com and perform a simple software upgrade by installing True Access(tm) Operating System (TAOS) version 2.1/6.1.
''We're pleased that Ascend is releasing its new V.90 code,'' said Jim Barr, network engineer at GTEI Internetworking. ''Users have been reluctant to purchase 56K technology because of competing standards. Ascend's V.90 code should allow all 56K modems owners to connect to our network and enjoy faster access to the Internet.''
''We have done extensive in-house testing, as well as interoperability testing with numerous modem vendors and service providers implementing V.90 compliant code. Ascend has gone to great lengths to provide quality, reliable V.90 compliant code to ensure that our customers and dial-in end-users achieve consistent, high-speed 56K connections,'' said Kurt Bauer, vice president of product management for Ascend's Access Switching business unit.
''Given our sizable market share in the access concentrator market, rolling out code now means that the Internet will soon have interoperable V.90 56K connections.''
Extensive Interoperability Testing Focused on Stability
In an effort to produce reliable, quality V.90 code that ensures interoperability, Ascend began aggressive testing in-house and at Rockwell Semiconductor in February 1998. Compatibility testing with modem vendors and Internet service providers (ISP) began in March 1998.
To test compatibility with the V.90 standard and older modem protocols, participating client-side modem vendors dialed into Ascend's Point of Presence (PoP) test facility at the company's worldwide headquarters. Ascend provided its V.90 compliant code to the client modem vendors for their own V.90 firmware development.
Additionally, Ascend and Rockwell created worldwide PoPs to test dial-up conditions internationally. Ascend sites were setup in Alameda, Sophia-Antipolis, France and Melbourne, Australia.
''Boca Research is pleased to see Ascend spearheading the deployment of V.90 access points. The sooner the standard is implemented the sooner consumers will see the benefits to upgrade from 33.6K to 56K. Boca's 56K Tidalwave(tm) was developed for the V.90 standard and offers several unique features such as Fail-Safe downloading,'' said Henricus Cox, vice president of marketing, Boca Research, Inc.
Many ISPs have setup interoperability test facilities installed with Ascend's V.90 compliant code in their MAX and MAX TNT PoPs and have performed rigorous compatibility tests to ensure reliable, high-speed 56K dial-up access to the Internet.
Ascend participated in an Intel sponsored event held May 4, 1998, at the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) V.90 meeting. Ascend successfully completed comprehensive V.90 client/server testing with modem vendors. The MAX and MAX TNT access concentrators consistently terminated calls and achieved high-speed 56K transmission rates.
Ascend's V.90 code is backward compatible with older modem protocols, which include K56flex, V.34, and V.FC. This will enable end-users with pre-V.90 modems to successfully connect to a MAX or MAX TNT WAN access switch that has been upgraded to Ascend's V.90 code found in TAOS 2.1/6.1.
Pricing and Availability
Registered Ascend MAX and MAX TNT customers' can download the company's V.90 code free of charge beginning today. The TAOS 2.1/6.1 software upgrade can be found at ftp://ftp.ascend.com. Additional questions about Ascend's V.90 compliant code can be answered at ascend.com through the V.90 FAQ.
Ascend's MAX and MAX TNT products enable enterprise customers and service providers to deploy remote access and Internet dial-up access. According to market research firm Dell'Oro Group, the MAX and MAX TNT products are the most widely installed WAN access switches in the industry. More than four million MAX and MAX TNT access ports are being used worldwide by Network Service Providers and enterprise customers for Internet access and remote access to corporate networks.
About Ascend Communications
Ascend Communications, Inc. develops, manufactures, sells and services wide area networking solutions for telecommunications carriers, Internet service providers and corporate customers worldwide.
Press and industry analysts, please contact Christine Andrews, Alexander Communications, 415/923-1660, candrews@alexandercom.com; Investors and financial analysts, please contact: Kristina Graziano, 510/747-2345, kristina.graziano@ascend.com; for all other inquiries please call toll-free: 800/ASCEND4.
For more information about Ascend and its products, please visit the Ascend Web site at www.ascend.com, or send e-mail to info@ascend.com. Ascend is headquartered at One Ascend Plaza, 1701 Harbor Bay Parkway, Alameda, Calif. 94502; phone is 800/ASCEND4 and fax is 510/814-2300.
The foregoing statements may contain forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from these expectations as a result of factors including, but not limited to, the Company's success in developing, introducing or shipping new products, competition, the mix of distribution channels employed, the Company's dependence on single or limited source suppliers for certain components used in its products, risks inherent in international sales, seasonality and general economic conditions. These and other factors are discussed in Ascend's 10-K, 10-Q and other filings made periodically with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(1) Current FCC restrictions, line conditions and other external factors will reduce data transmission rates and may reduce them significantly. V.90 allows for up to 56K modem transfers on the downstream portion of the call and 33.6K on the upstream portion of the call.
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Contact:
Ascend Communications
Todd Koch, 510/747-2672
todd.koch@ascend.com
or
Alexander Communications
Christine Andrews, 415/923-1660
candrews@alexandercom.com |
